The Point of No Return

[Kemala]

Kekura din Anor New Moon
Aes Sedai of the Red Ajah
Sitter of the Red Ajah

The Hall of the Tower

No one put a proposal before the Hall without speaking to some of the Sitters beforehand. This was tradition as much as practicality. In the case of the matter before the Hall tonight, secrecy was required. Law generally stated that the Amyrlin had to be notified when the Hall was to sit but for one notable exception. That very thing was the key to the night’s proceedings. It was Kekura who formally called the Hall together, and momentarily, there were seventeen Sitters entering its doors.

All seventeen were shawled. The trio of Sitters each rested in their stone seats, expressions ranging from serenely blank to outright intense. They all wore their finest attire, each matching the colors of their Ajahs. As Kekura peered around them, she waved a hand and the doors were locked from within. There were no warders inside. No guards. No channeling was allowed inside the Hall, so the heavy bolts of latches thudding into place was the only sign of their shared sealed fates.

Her gaze swept the rotund hall. She had the support of every pair of eyes to gaze back into hers. When she stood, her shawl fell like a red wave from her shoulders. Her hair was heavy with braids, but tonight they were pinned tight from her face. Naturally, she could not help but glance at the three empty seats opposite her. Of all the Ajahs, not a single one from the Blue was present. Secrecy was maintained, and they had not been informed of the congress. At the left of the empty chairs was a fourth. Aubrey and Brenna were the only representation of the Brown. Due to her conflict of interest in the matter, Fate was banned from attendance.

“Sitters, I bring before you a grave matter. I call for a vote of Consensus of deposition of Kaydrienne Lindelle as Amyrlin Seat.”

There were no murmurings and no shiftings of weight. They all know why they were there.

“I will present my formal evidence thusly. I begin with the precedent of Tetsuan, raised from the Red Ajah, served during the Trolloc Wars, was deposed and stilled in 1200 AB for having let her jealousy and pride almost destroy the White Tower and all of the land with it. Tetsuan, jealous of Queen Eldrene ay Ellan ay Carlan's strength in the One Power, betrayed Manetheren, by ordering the promised reinforcements to stay their ground. Tetsuan was found unfit to hold the stole and staff, and was replaced by a sister raised from the Blue Ajah, thereby igniting the two thousand year long animosity between the two Ajahs.”

It would be shocking that Kekura shared this story now. She was the face of the Red Ajah, both by name and as its head. However, she was above such animosities now, and used this story as evidence that the Hall be above Ajahs and see the greater good.

“Kaydrienne Lindelle’s has repeatedly enacted policies that allow Seanchan greater and greater authority. These policies date back many years and are in direct contradiction to her claims that she will protect our children who may channel. She has taken no action against them, and has advised royals to do the same. We have proof before us in the form of the King of Arad Doman. For months she has sent Sisters to oversee the negotiation of a treaty between Arad Doman and Seanchan that gives them equal rights to access, ownership, legitimacy, and rule. These Sisters have reported successful negotiations, yet the treaty stalled. Until today. We have all learned that this very morning, a woman of the Tower, a Gaidar by the name of Trista Alquin, was sold as part of the terms of the treaty. Given as property to a Seanchan High Lord, and the treaty signed immediately after.”

Kekura knew they all were aware of the rumors. The only two Sitters who were hesitant spoke to someone actually present, whose testimony sealed their decision. She glanced then at Reloane and Esenya, each seated apart from each other among the Gray and Yellow Ajahs, respectively.

“Kaydrienne’s attempt to gain favor with the Hall is a thin, last hope. She forbade the attendance of any Sister at the treaty so that she may appear against it and to limit the number of reliable witnesses to Trista’s enslavement. Sitters, her policies are leading us toward Seanchan invasion.” She took a breath only to fill her lungs with resolution, but it was not needed to steel her already strong nerves. Kekura felt strong in the middle of the hall. Her voice was sure and confident. This was the right thing to do. “I call for you to stand in support of this motion to depose, still, and execute Kaydrienne Lindelle.”